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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fine · lie · leaves · net · pitch · lash · wax · foot

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. wax — to grow
  4. net — in sport
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. pitch — completely
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. net — for catching
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. fine — all right
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fine — high quality
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. lie — to recline
  23. foot — a measure
  24. net — after costs

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com